1. THURSDAY: New Kids on the Block II starts 5 p.m. at the Handlery Hotel. The lineup of rookie breweries includes Benchmark, Wet 'N Reckless, Latitude 33, Societe, Acoustic, Helm’s, Ironfire, Modern Times and Butcher’s. Food will be served by Chef Karl Prohaska, Nate Sokoro from Toronado San Diego and Misty Birchall, the latter bringing her beer-infused cupcakes, aka PubCakes. Tickets, $30, can be bought here.

2. FRIDAY: Benchmark Brewing's official grand opening is Friday and Saturday. besides beer, expect sausages from Left Coast Links. Tickets, a modest $5, can be bought here; they include a tall pour of a fresh Benchmark beer.

3. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Summer YuleSmith, the IPA version of AleSmith popular Christmas beer, will be pumped from casks this weekend. On Friday, the beer will flow at Hamilton's. On Saturday, it will be the turn of Local Habit, as part of its second anniversary celebrations.

4. SATURDAY: Brewing's artistic side will be highlighted at the California Center for the Arts, which will toast its current exhibit -- "Art Illustrated: Celebrating Comic Arts" -- with Stone beers. Tickets, $45, are on sale here. The show/beer bash begins at 7 p.m.

5. SUNDAY: Taste of Adams Avenue features food and drink at 31 participating restaurants and pubs along Normal Heights' and Kensington's main thoroughfare. Tickets are availabe at each location -- $30 in advance and $35 on the event's day. For beer fans, many of these stops will be familiar: Soda & Swine, Jayne's Gastropub, Heights Tavern, Rosie O'Grady's, Blind Lady Ale House and Clem's Bottle House.